Aqueous Ink Jet Composition with Lactam and Urethane for Clog Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ink jet inks suffer from inadequate color development, abrasion resistance, and clogging recoverability, particularly in high-speed printing applications.
Innovation Solution
An ink jet ink composition containing a self-dispersing pigment with a carboxyl group, a water-soluble urethane resin, and a lactam with a 6- to 8-membered lactam ring, which enhances color development, abrasion resistance, and clogging recoverability by forming a film on the recording medium and maintaining moisture retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ink jet ink is used, then the printing process is simple, but the color development, abrasion resistance, and clogging recoverability are unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the ink composition by introducing specific components: a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin with degree of hydrolysis of 87-99% and specific molecular weight range, combined with a self-dispersing pigment having carboxyl groups. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable clogging recoverability through controlled chemical composition while maintaining practical usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite ink system by combining multiple functional components: water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin, self-dispersing pigment, and specific solvent mixtures. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating multiple functions (color development, abrasion resistance, clogging recoverability) into a unified ink composition that performs reliably without excessive complexity.
2Productivity
If high-speed printing is implemented, then productivity increases, but ink drying time and quality control become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes solvent composition parameters by using a specific mixture of water, organic solvent (15-40 mass%), and surfactant (0.1-5 mass%). This parameter control enables rapid evaporation and drying at high printing speeds while maintaining consistent image quality, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a surfactant as an intermediary substance that mediates between the ink components and the recording medium. This surfactant facilitates rapid wetting and uniform distribution at high printing speeds, ensuring consistent image quality even when drying time is reduced, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and quality control.
3Illumination intensity
If pigment concentration is increased for better color development, then color intensity improves, but abrasion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol resin as a binding intermediary that adheres pigment particles to the recording medium. This binder allows high pigment concentration for intense color development while simultaneously providing a protective matrix that enhances abrasion resistance, resolving the contradiction between color intensity and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where pigment particles are embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol resin matrix. This composite approach enables high pigment loading for vivid colors while the resin provides mechanical strength and abrasion resistance, resolving the contradiction between color intensity and durability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The ink composition achieves improved color development, abrasion resistance, and reduced clogging in ink jet printers, ensuring stable ejection and preventing contamination.
Implementation Method 1
a water-soluble urethane resin dissolved in the solvent component... forming a film on the recording medium
Implementation Method 2
The pigment contains a self-dispersing pigment having a carboxyl group introduced therein
Data Source
AI summary
An ink jet ink composition includes a pigment, a lactam having a 6- to 8-membered lactam ring, a solvent component, and a water-soluble urethane resin dissolved in the solvent component. The pigment contains a self-dispersing pigment having a carboxyl group introduced therein, and the content of the water-soluble urethane resin is 0.38 by mass or more relative to the total amount of the ink jet ink composition. The solvent component contains water, and the ink jet ink composition is an aqueous ink.